Shen Shiyun continued, "But if there is no such thing, it must be dealt with according to the law to show the world that our Great Qing is not a coward." Fulin nodded approvingly and said, "Consort Yun is sensible." He didn't know that Shen Shiyun's inner thoughts were, "This is bad, I'm afraid things are going to get worse. Fortunately, ben gong foresaw it early and found Consort Zhen as a scapegoat in advance. When the time comes, if there is any blame, it will all be pushed to her. "
Not long after, two Imperial Bodyguards escorted Chen Xiangxiang into the hall, bowed and asked to leave. Chen Xiangxiang was very quiet this time, she didn't cry or make a fuss, she stood calmly in the same place. Fulin walked in front of her and said gently, "Zhen has been busy with Ri nation's affairs, I didn't have time to take care of you. Now there are people on the street crying out for you. Zhen has vowed that I will never let an innocent person die unjustly. Now I will ask you again, do you confess? "Chen Xiangxiang shook her head, her eyes showing tenacity. Fulin patted her shoulder and said, "Good, whatever grievances you have, just say it, zhen will uphold justice for you."
Chen Xiangxiang pointed to her throat and waved her hand. Fulin said, "You don't want to say it? Or do you have some difficulties that you can't say? "Chen Xiangxiang shook her head, one finger pointed to the sky, and then to her throat, waving her hand. She raised her head, opened her hands, and put them to her mouth, pointed behind Fulin, and then to her throat. Fulin vaguely guessed some clues and deliberately asked, "Are you thirsty?"
Chen Xiangxiang knelt on the ground and kowtowed again and again. Zheng Ying anxiously said, "Your Majesty, don't be deceived by her, no criminal will admit their guilt. Just because she can't speak, she can prove her innocence by making a few gestures. Then the rest of the people will follow suit and cut off their tongues before committing a crime. Won't they all enjoy peace? "Fulin turned half of his body and coldly said," She can't speak? Have you confirmed it? Then how was the confession recorded before? "
Zheng Ying was at a loss for words. Even though Shen Shiyun was the mastermind behind the poison, she was the one who pinched Chen Xiangxiang's nose and forced the poison down her throat. What if she couldn't cover it up, and the Emperor remembered their old friendship and sentenced her to death, but only banished Shen Shiyun to the Cold Palace, and then after three to five years, he remembered her good and pardoned her crime, then she would be too wronged. Shen Shiyun took a few steps forward and glanced down at Chen Xiangxiang from Fulin's blind spot. She revealed a mocking smile and said, "Chenqie was also present when we recorded the statement. I can speak when I saw her."
Fulin said, "Are you saying that she's pretending to be mute? What good would that do? " Shen Shiyun smiled and said, "Your Majesty is wise. Just now this female criminal raised her hand and pointed to the sky, her face was full of unwillingness. In Chenqie's humble opinion, she wanted to say that she wasn't born mute, but was given a mute medicine by a treacherous villain with ulterior motives." Chen Xiangxiang was stunned. She couldn't figure out how Shen Shiyun could confess to the crime in front of the Emperor, but she felt that this matter was not that simple. Fulin muttered, "What you said is reasonable. But if she can speak, who can she threaten?"
Shen Shiyun said, "Then I'll have to ask Your Majesty to speculate. The devils of the Sacrifice Shadow Cult are vicious and merciless. Perhaps when they saw that their accomplice was arrested, they were worried that she would not be able to withstand the torture and confess the secret of the cult. This would be disadvantageous to themselves, so they made her unable to speak first. This is reasonable." Fulin frowned and said, "Impossible? This demonic woman is the daughter of the Demon Cult's Hierarch. How could the cult members dare to offend their superiors and be so rude to her? "
Shen Shiyun smiled and said, "It's all in the past. She used to be a young lady, but now she's just a prisoner in the palace. She'll be executed in a few days. Traitors are the best at taking advantage of the situation. Who would want to waste time and effort to respect her? Besides, Chenqie heard that the Hierarch of the Demon Cult is biased and only believes in the Young Master Jiang Liechen and the Fallen Sky Hall's Chief An Yesun. This young lady doesn't have any status in the cult. "
Fulin nodded and said, "That's true. You know the inner workings of the Sacrifice Shadow Cult very well." Shen Shiyun said, "In war, one must know oneself as well as the enemy. Chenqie wants to completely destroy the Demon Cult. Naturally, Chenqie has to know everything." Fulin said, "Consort Yun's plan is very thorough …"
Chen Xiangxiang saw that Shen Shiyun had easily turned the situation around. Tears finally fell from her eyes. She suddenly stood up and rushed to the table. She grabbed a writing brush and waved it around. Fulin said, "You know how to write? That's great! Guards, bring her writing brush and ink. "A few personal guards brought in the four treasures of the study. They dipped the writing brush in ink and presented it with both hands. Fulin handed the writing brush to Chen Xiangxiang and said, "Zhen will give you a chance to retract your confession. Write down everything you want to say."
Chen Xiangxiang was moved to tears. She took the writing brush and started writing on the paper. Zhen Ying's heart sank. She hurriedly stepped in front of the emperor and said, "Your Majesty, don't tell me that you'll believe whatever she writes? You're so busy every day. She's writing endlessly. I don't know how long she'll take. Please go back and rest. Here … Consort Yun and I will take care of it. "
Fulin said, "No matter how long she writes, zhen will read it. You don't have to worry about it. Step aside." Shen Shiyun was a lot calmer than Zheng Ying. He didn't say anything. He just watched her writing attentively. He was trying to find a flaw in her writing. If there was anything unfavorable to him, he would immediately defend himself. Her writing speed was very slow, much slower than his. If he really wanted to refute her, it wouldn't be difficult.
The three of them stared closely at Chen Xiangxiang's confession. Each of them was anxious. Fulin didn't say anything, but in his heart he was also suspicious of Shen Shiyun. It's just that he really didn't want to accept it. He saw her writing, "This humble girl was originally the daughter of a rich family in the capital, Chen Xiangxiang. I was captured without any reason and was forced to take a mute drug. I was wrongly accused. My confession was forged in front of my face. The Devil Cult people have a deep enmity with the Imperial Family. They paraded this humble girl through the streets. This is … "Shen Shiyun saw that if he let her continue writing, his conspiracy would be completely exposed. His plan would be ruined. His palms were also sweating.
This moment a palace eunuch suddenly came to report, "Your Majesty, civil and military officials, as well as the new Jinshi, have all gathered in the Hall of Supreme Harmony. They are waiting for Your Majesty to preside over the ceremony." Fulin's heart was also suffering. Finally there was something he could use as an excuse. He was happy to push the boat along with the current. Even if he found out a moment later, it would be better. "That's right," he busily said, "This is an important matter. It can't be delayed. Zhen will go there immediately."
Chen Xiangxiang panicked. She flung the brush away and pulled Fulin's sleeve. Fulin said, "You continue to write. Zhen will be back soon. Yun 'er, Zhen promised to take you to attend the ceremony. Come with Zhen. Consort Zhen, look after her. "After thinking about it, he was still somewhat worried. He ordered several Imperial Bodyguards to stand guard. Before he left, Shen Shiyun gave Zheng Ying a meaningful glance. Zheng Ying understood and nodded. Chen Xiangxiang knew her time was coming, her eyes turned empty.
The Hall of Supreme Harmony was the place where many emperors of the Ming and Qing dynasties held grand ceremonies. The decoration was very luxurious. Under the eaves there was a row of densely-packed wooden gongs. The gongs were of the highest grade, and were set up on the beams inside and outside the room. The upper part of the doors and windows were inlaid with water chestnut checkerboard pattern. The lower part was embossed with cloud and dragon pattern. The inside of the Hall was paved with golden bricks, hence it was also called the Hall of the Throne.
Altogether there were seventy-two large pillars supporting the weight. There was a nine-dragon gold-lacquered throne in the middle of the hall. There were four sets of furnishings on both sides of the front: a precious elephant, a luan duan, a red-crowned crane, and a fragrant pavilion. The precious elephant symbolized the stability of the country and the consolidation of the political power. The luan duan was a legendary auspicious animal. The red-crowned crane symbolized longevity. The fragrant pavilion symbolized the stability of the country. Above the throne, there was an upward bulging caisson shaped like an umbrella. In the middle there was a sculpture of a huge coiled dragon. The dragon's head was looking down, with a precious pearl in its mouth.
Fulin and Shen Shiyun entered the Hall. Fulin took his place on the throne, Shen Shiyun stood on his side. According to the system, the Imperial Ceremonial Guard was set up in front of the Hall, and was set up under the eaves. The Honglu Temple official led the new Jinshi to take his place. He unfolded the imperial edict and read, "In the first month of the second year of Shunzhi, the tribute scholars of the world are tested. The first place of the first rank is Shaanxi's provincial governor, Tang Yuancheng, and is bestowed the title of Jinshi." Tang Yuancheng was led out of the class and knelt in the middle of the Imperial Path.
The official also read the second place of the first rank, leading him to kneel on the left side of the Imperial Path. The second place of the first rank, leading him to kneel on the right side of the Imperial Path. Each name was recited three times in succession, and was passed down the red steps. The second place of the second rank, the third place of the second rank, the third place of the first rank, the third place of the first rank, the third place of the first rank.
Tang Yuancheng lived with his grandmother, his life was simple and frugal. This was the first time he came to this magnificent Hall, he was very nervous. He lowered his head and stared at the carpet in front of him. He could be considered a newborn calf who was not afraid of a tiger, but he was slightly less afraid of the Emperor's prestige. Unable to resist his curiosity, he quietly raised his gaze, his eyes darted around randomly. As soon as they met other people's line of sight, he would immediately evade, avoiding the disrespect of looking at each other.
When he glanced to the left of the throne, suddenly he felt his heart was struck by something, unexpectedly he was unable to move his gaze away. He saw an Imperial Concubine wearing gorgeous clothes, her appearance was very similar to Shen Shiyun. He had not forgotten his love for the woman he had only met once, his mind was always filled with her beautiful image. This time he suspected that he was missing her too much that he was hallucinating. He lowered his head and rubbed his eyes, and then raised his head again.
The first time he raised his gaze to peek, but this time he raised his whole head. He saw that the woman was clearly Shen Shiyun, but her charming face was much more beautiful than before. He did not know whether it was because she took good care of herself, or because they had been apart for a long time. He saw her smiling face, proudly looking around the hall, her gaze did not linger on his face for even a moment. But he was greedy and wanted to take all of her smile into his pocket for his own enjoyment.
His heart was intoxicated. In a trance, he heard the recitation of the names end, followed by loud music. All the officials from the Grand Scholar to the third rank and above, as well as the new Jinshi, kneeled three times and kowtowed nine times. Tang Yuancheng also kowtowed in a daze, repeatedly saying that the Emperor's benevolence was vast and mighty. The Zhonghe Shao Music played the Symphony of Peace. The ceremony was completed in a flash. Then an Imperial Decree was passed down, "Zhuangyuan Gong will stay temporarily, the rest of the people will withdraw from the court." Tang Yuancheng only thought that it was convenient for him to continue looking at Shen Shiyun's beautiful face, he did not worry about whether the Emperor would punish him for his rudeness.
After all the officials withdrew, only Tang Yuancheng, Fulin, and Shen Shiyun were left in the hall. Shen Shiyun stepped down the stairs and slowly walked in front of Tang Yuancheng. She smiled sweetly at him and said, "Zhuangyuan Gong, congratulations." As soon as Tang Yuancheng saw the woman of his dreams in front of him, he could no longer control himself. He stretched out his hands and held her hands, saying, "Miss Yun 'er, Yun' er, is it really you? I'm not dreaming, am I? You … do you still remember me? I am Tang Yuancheng, that silly Tang Yuancheng! "
Shen Shiyun smiled faintly again and said softly, "Zhuangyuan Gong is too modest. You still call yourself silly. In these thousands of years, there are not many smart people in the world who have won the imperial examination. Of course I remember you, Young Master Tang. That's why I came here to congratulate you on getting what you wanted. " Tang Yuancheng was even more delighted. He said, "That's great, that's great. I didn't expect to see you at the imperial examination ceremony. This … this … is really a double blessing … Yun 'er, ever since we parted in Chang' an, I haven't been able to forget you. I always think about you. I … I think about you day and night! Can you believe it? It's all because of you that I was able to win the imperial examination this time! "
Shen Shiyun smiled and said, "You being the Zhuangyuan Gong this time is because of the accumulated merits of the Tang family's ancestors. It's also because of your family's hard work, and it's also the result of your own hard work. How can it be because of me?"
Tang Yuancheng said, "Of course it's because of you. If it weren't for the fact that I always thought about you and wanted to win the imperial examination so that I could see you again and be qualified to be on equal footing with you, I wouldn't have studied so hard. You are my spiritual motivation. Look, this is the handkerchief you gave me. I've always kept it close to my body. When I miss you, I take it out and look at it. I wash it carefully every day. It's been so long, but there's not a speck of dirt on it … "As he said that, he took out the handkerchief from his bosom and was about to caress her cheek.
Fulin saw this Zhuangyuan Gong being so intimate with his beloved concubine in front of him. Even though he knew that they were old acquaintances, he still felt a little jealous. He coughed dryly and walked down the stairs.
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